Big Boys Toys Expo 2016

Big Boys Toys Expo is back again for its second year, after a hugely successful debut in 2015. Over 9,000 people walked through the gates over the two days, with a constant stream of excitable kids and adults enjoying the variety of action on offer. Held at Exhibition Park in Canberra, prepare to be amazed at the size and scale of this event and the diverse range of boys (and girls!) toys to discover.

See remote control helicopter stunt shows, hot rods, emergency vehicles, caravans, motorbikes, skateboards, electric bikes, watercraft, ParaTrikes, trucks, remote control cars, flight simulators and more. Canberra's own Tortured Gum Brewery will be back for beer tastings and another highlight of this expo is the interactive displays. Press some buttons, rev up an engine and spend the day exploring this adrenaline-filled expo at the EPIC.

This huge event will take up 15,000m2 of floor space at the EPIC, with just as much to do outside as inside. Whilst outside, enjoy the larger toys on display including fire engines to sit in, caravans you can walk through, the latest cars to admire and discover new developments in engine technology. Stand by and watch the experts rev up some huge horse power and see demonstrations of the latest machinery. Get more information about Paintball with International Paintball Group, Go Kart Racing with Power Kart Raceway, Off Road Jeeps with Jeep City, car paint options with Wizard Paint Repairs, gym equipment with GymQuip Fitness and check out the latest in electric bikes with Capital Stealth Electric Bikes. More Big Boys Toys exhibitors are being added daily, so there will be something for all the crowd at this huge day at the EPIC.

Another feature of this family-friendly expo is the variety of attractions there are to entertain the kids. There are interactive displays to try, face painting, freebies, balloons, remote control action to watch and a variety of food to enjoy. On the outside there are food stalls with tasty smells to entice, as well as pizza and other delicious food options inside.

One of the highlights of the expo is the helicopter remote control stunts by the RC Crew, who will returning again for 2016. This aerial display was held at a neighbouring field in 2015, however check on the day for their 2016 location. These huge remote control helicopters are beautifully crafted and impressive to watch. The skilled operators send them vertically into the air, hover them upside down with the blades cutting the grass and do aerial tricks you didn't even know were possible. The crowd was oohing and aahing with every flip and trick. To get a taste of some of the action, see the You Tube clip below of the RC Crew, Sydney.

The action doesn't stop there as when you walk inside there is even more to discover. There are smaller stalls showing off their products, local radio stations broadcasting live, kids getting their faces painted, demonstrations to watch and food and alcohol to taste test. Peruse the new wine on offer with Wine Selectors, enjoy some tasty Stockman Sticks Beef Jerky and burn your mouth with some Crowleys Hot Sauce. In the technology section you can watch Aussie 3D Printers amaze the crowds and find out more about the latest in computer technology. Also back for 2016 is Vice City Players retro Pinball Machines and Arcade Games. Watch the masters rack up the points and introduce your kids to the way games were played, old school.

For a full list of exhibitors see the Big Boys Toys Expo website and keep up to date with all the latest news with the Big Boys Toys Facebook page. You can purchase tickets to the Expo online (see here) closer to the date, as well as at the gate. It is a gold coin donation for kids under 15, with all proceeds going to the worthy Menslink organisation, supporting young men in Canberra.

Big Boys Toys Expo was one of the highlights of Canberra's events calendar in 2015, with thousands coming out to enjoy the huge variety of entertainment on offer. Not just for boys, this event has something for everyone, with the crowd made up of families, friends, couples and plenty of kids eager to get their hands on some freebies and try out some of the action. So clear the calendar and expect to spend the whole day at this once-a-year event, sure to get bigger and better every year.